Mr. Benjamin Starkridge, the school director, invited the four students into his office. He was a man of simplicity, thus the decor wasn't overly complicated. They took their places around his long oak office desk, while he adjusted his seat behind it. Mr. Starkridge didn't appear to mind when a small owl finch fluttered through the open window and landed on the frame.
"What happened to Nelanian?" He asked, gently sliding his fingers around each other as his hands clasped together, "I thought the instructions were explicit that all applicants for the champion of Ithea trials must attend this conference."
"We should just forget about him; if he proceeds to perform the trials, he will only bring us shame. He might as well drop out of school altogether."
“You shut up! Don't talk about him like that; Nelanian is a member of our team, and I'm not going to sit here and watch you tarnish his name in front of the director!” Cecily leaped from her seat and yelled back at Luciana, who remained unfazed by her remarks.
“I hate to admit it, but Luciana is somewhat right. Since joining us as a candidate, Nelanian has been putting up terrible numbers. If it were up to me to make the decision, I would cut him out as a participant for the sake of the school's reputation,” Jalon Barr said. Jalon was always regarded as an outspoken member of the group. He used to say things only to taunt others and have a good time, but this time he looked to be speaking sincerely.
“Well, that is expected of you. You always hated Nelanian and would say anything to throw shade at his name. What about you Norval?” Cecily questioned Norval, "Tell me you don't agree with these two." At first glance, Norval appeared unpleasant and even threatening at times, but he was actually a very straightforward, disciplined, and honorable individual. He was a fantastic candidate and, most importantly, a great friend, despite being a little naïve about personal relations due to his elite background. He rarely shed his customary severe expression, but the candidates knew he was a brilliant candidate and, most importantly, a great friend. And because he was never one to lie, they could count on him to give them straight answers.
“I believe Nelanian is not as concerned as the rest of us. Luciana is correct. Even though I disagree with the way she expressed herself, she is correct. Nelanian would be here with us if he was serious about this. He hasn't been to class in a while, and his grades are at an all-time low. This institution requires a particular level of dedication, which I don't believe he possesses, so I don't believe he should take part in the trials,” Norval stated, his face solemn.
“So all of you would just abandon and give up on him. Mr. Starkridge, even you. You were the one who encouraged him to continue his training, and he was making progress before Master Gale's tragic death. Now that the media has arrived at the school gates, all you can think about is your own reputation and the school's image, so you dismiss him.”
“Sit down little girl! I've had enough of it. Don't think of me as one of your peers to address me as such. Learn proper etiquette!” Cecily was growled at by Mr. Starkridge. She paused in her outburst and returned to her seat. Her voice was beginning to quiver, and the rest of her pals, knowing how much of a cry baby she was, knew it was only a matter of time until she burst out crying, and they were happy Mr. Starkridge had intervened before it happened.
“Now, as scheduled, all of you will speak to the media in the afternoon. So get yourselves ready for that. The trials are set to begin next month, so that should be a top focus for you,” Mr. Starkridge concluded, "We will debate Henfery Nelanian's fate with the teaching staff further."
“Nelanian said he was dropping out of school today, so there was no need for it. He said he was going to meet with you this evening and tell you in person,” Luciana said, not bothering to look at the rest of her peers.
“That is a lie; it is untrue. That's something Nelanian would never do!” Cecily spoke up again, leaping from her seat.
“He was returning his books to the library and packing his belongings the last time I saw him,” She said, "So you can go see for yourself."
“If you disrupt this meeting one more time, I will eject you from my office. Do I make myself clear, Miss Cecily?” Mr. Starkridge said, stabbing his pen on his desk. Cecily regained her composure and sat back down in her seat.
“Yes director, sorry about that,”
“If this is the case, we've saved ourselves the trouble of having to expel him. So be it if he has made the decision to drop out on his own. After the media interview, we'll resume our studies and wait for Rhaizen Gales' body to come tomorrow morning and set up the school for public viewing.
You will now be in charge of the foyer, Jalon Barr. Tomorrow we will have prominent guests, and I would like you to work with other members of the staff to ensure that the venue is properly set up. Norval Greensmith, you'll collaborate with Cecily Ethel and assist the valet service. The majority of the visitors will arrive in cars, therefore I'd need you to oversee the valet services and ensure that everything runs properly.
His vision was fuzzy while he was mending from his migraine. He appeared to be losing touch with reality. Thankfully, the several folks who came to meet him arrived just in time, before he was in anydanger. Cecily's screams shocked him awake, and he hadn't been breathing the whole time. His feeble hands slipped on one of the clothing strewn over the floor as a result of his collapse. When his skull collided with the wooden surface, Cecily, who was running full speed at him, let out a devilish cry."Nel! Are you OK, Nel?" Her short skirt flowed from side to side as she screamed, but she didn't seem to worry because her entire focus was on Nelanian. She knelt and supported his head with her hands, ensuring that it remained upright.Others were merely emulating her actions. They approached the smashed door and stood like scarecrows there. "What are you folks doing standing around for, can't you see he needs assistance?" Go ahead and call the school nurse, Norval!&nb
The press corps was thrown into a frenzy. Mr. Starkridge had told the students that they needed to leave the interview location. Cecily's outburst was to blame for everything. She'd dropped a massive bombshell in front of some of the four kingdoms' most powerful media companies. Mr. Starkridge gave them instructions to report to his office.Except for Norval, who was always the most docile of the group, the otherstudents followed with reluctance."What in the world do you think you're doing, kid? Do you have any idea what you've done to this school?" With red stinging eyes glaring Cecily down, he barked. She didn't seem to be fazed in the least. The adrenaline rushing through her veins and the rage seething in her mind propelled her intentions."Mr. Starkridge, tell us the truth! Did you know all this time that Nelanian had a brain tumor?" she inquired. Her classmates waited by her side, waiting for the answer as well."Of course not you
“During last night's interview, shocking truths emerge. More information is needed but based on what we know so far, it appears like two candidates for the champion of Ithea, Nelanian Henfery, and Cecily Ethel, will not participate in the next trials to elect a new champion. Nelanian declined to participate in the trials after learning that he had a brain tumour and that he would be unable to compete in them. Cecily, on the other hand, dropped out of the trials as soon as she learned of Nelanian's illness. She then opted out of the trials as well, making the decision on her own and without consulting her family. As expected, her move has sparked considerable controversy. Her father, who disapproved of her decision and hoped she would come to her senses, had been rooting for her and waiting for her to show off her skills in the trials. The instructors and staff here have praised her as a bright alchemist, possibly the most gifted of the group, and they are devastated to learn of her
‘Nelanian'From within his dream, a voice resonated. He didn't think about it, and he didn't pay it the attention it deserved.‘Wake up, Nelanian!'Once more, the voice reverberated. Nelanian sprung from his bed and sucked in a huge gulp of breath. His nose could only detect the odors of latex gloves, floor cleaners, and hospital food. He appeared to be lost in thought for a time as if he was pondering how he ended himself in the ward in the first place. A soft touch finally settled over his right hand after a few moments of recognition, and he could feel the feminine tenderness that accompanied it. When he turned to his right, he saw Cecily yelling for a nurse and attempting to calm him down.“Are you OK, Nelanian?” You had been asleep since yesterday!” Cecily continued to clutch his hand. He returned to his bed and calmed himself, recalling how he had ended himself in the infirmary. The nurse dashed into the ward
At the school's gates, a fleet of escort cars arrived. The arriving fleet was heard from afar by the idle camera crew who was sleeping the night away in the parking lot. They promptly turned on their cameras. One of the cars came to a standstill, and the back door opened a notch. Two young men dressed in casual clothing emerged and rolled out a red carpet across the pavement leading to the gates. The automobile then moved forward, making room for a limousine to enter the scene smoothly. The camera team fought for a good view of the gorgeous vehicle from both sides of the spread carpet. It came to rest exactly on the carpet, and the front doors opened, revealing two bodyguards. They dashed to the back of the vehicle and cautiously opened the back door. A lovely leg, adorned with pricey stilettos and a stunning gown, stepped out of the automobile. As she stepped out of the car and onto the carpet, the bodyguard extended his arm, and a feminine hand reached out and clut
The interment was quick and uninteresting. Rhaizen Gale was laid to rest by drunkards who didn't give a damn about his body or his funeral. All they could think about was how quickly the ceremony would end so they could return to their normal lives and forget about that miserable excuse for a man. They wanted the trials to begin so that a new champion could be chosen, one who was descended from royalty and had noble blood coursing through her veins.Luciana was the one who was going to be chosen, as were the majority of IAA students and faculty thought. She had the numbers and the support to back it up. She had always been at the top of her class since her enrollment, and her grades had never slipped. She also showed remarkable promise on the battlefield, winning every tournament she participated in. She was occasionally beatenby Jalon Barr in combat tests and Cecily in alchemy tests, although overall she ranked higher than both when compared. Cecily's absence from the
2 WEEKS TO THE TRIALS OF THE CHAMPION OF ITHEA Luciana walked through the hallways of the school's classroom area. When she made a turn and the kids' gaze caught her approaching towards them, they fell silent. They'd tuck into their lockers, and the doors to some of the classes would close. They didn't avoid her because they were afraid of her; they simply didn't want to engage with her. That didn't worry her in the least; she just kept walking, pausing sometimes to adjust her gloves. A little girl ran up to her, clutching a book in her hand, as she was about to make her final turn and exit the class complex. “Miss Vonner, wait!” she cried out to her. Luciana came to a halt to pay her attention.“Yes, what is it?” she asked, her tone solemn. She looked at the girl's face, which was painted with interest.“Could you perhaps assist us in our alchemy class, Miss Vonner?” With a tiny voice, the small girl inquired. “It's ok; you don't have to addres
4 DAYS UNTIL THE TRIAL BEGINSAll of the applicants were nervous, though some were more so than others. Luciana was torn between wanting to win it all and being unsure. She was well aware that if she won, she would be fulfilling her father's wishes, and she despised seeing him get what he desired. On the other hand, becoming the champion of Ithea was part of her dream, so they'd both receive what they wanted in the end.She carefully packed her belongings and took her time going over what she would need for the trip. The trials were supposed to take place somewhere else than the school grounds. It was supposed to take place in a safe spot in Sunset City. Sunset City served as the kingdom's trading hub. Most commodities and goods would be manufactured there, and it also held some of the kingdom's most contemporary facilities. The school hadrented out a sports complex that could be considered a city in and of itself.The trials would be held there, and the s